Mikeler's Multis

I've got a lot of time on the setup so I don't think it will get much better.

In the Pure Storm Tour (non GT), I liked it at 48/52 on a lockout. In the PK 7G, I liked it better at 52/56. Even though the Exo Tour is low powered, 52/56 also seems to work well in that frame. Never tried the TFight (calling Power Player) so that is the best advice I can offer.

just looked up the weisscannon site and found out that this new element 500 is more of a syngut than a multi - has a solid core and a layer of thinner monofilaments around it, so it's basically the construction of the more "advanced" synguts than a true multi.
what scared me literally is that it is only available in 1.34mm, which is pretty thick. of course, when played as fullbed it might be reasonable, but since i only use such strings as crosses, for me it is out of question due to the diameter.

Click to expand...

I also noticed the construction and thickness. Probably overpriced but who knows until I try right?

How powerful would PPA or DNA strung at 45 lbs be? Compared to midrange... Poly, it doesn't make much difference hoenstly, but what about multis?

Click to expand...

I've had PPA strung too loose before (this was before I got my own stringing machine). It was probably strung in the high 40's. I played ok with it, but it wasn't ideal. It's still not as powerful as gut at the ideal tension, but the control is what you lose. Control with multis isn't as good as poly to begin with, so you really don't want it too loose.

I've had PPA strung too loose before (this was before I got my own stringing machine). It was probably strung in the high 40's. I played ok with it, but it wasn't ideal. It's still not as powerful as gut at the ideal tension, but the control is what you lose. Control with multis isn't as good as poly to begin with, so you really don't want it too loose.

One more question. when multis usually break, they show signs... such as strands falling out.

With this tricore thing... will the signs of breaking be different for PPA?

Click to expand...

One nice thing about PPA is that it usually doesn't fray. If it does fray, it usually frays at such a micro level that it's not noticeable. I have seen it fray visibly on rare occasions. The main sign of wear is that it gets thinner. It will usually pop on a big hit. This can happen during the first hour if you hit the ball near the edge of the frame, it can happen after several hours (long after most multis have broken), or it can happen anytime in between if you are a string breaker and you shank the ball often. I think Mikeler included this on his most durable list, and I agree with that. It is very durable for a multi, but if you have a tendency to break strings prematurely on shanks, this is one of those that can break.

One nice thing about PPA is that it usually doesn't fray. If it does fray, it usually frays at such a micro level that it's not noticeable. I have seen it fray visibly on rare occasions. The main sign of wear is that it gets thinner. It will usually pop on a big hit. This can happen during the first hour if you hit the ball near the edge of the frame, it can happen after several hours (long after most multis have broken), or it can happen anytime in between if you are a string breaker and you shank the ball often. I think Mikeler included this on his most durable list, and I agree with that. It is very durable for a multi, but if you have a tendency to break strings prematurely on shanks, this is one of those that can break.

Click to expand...

That's what thought. The one time I used PPA I broke it on a shank after 7 hours (which was pretty long).

I've seen a JV player hit with that thing for nearly 2 months... 4 times a week too, and it never frayed, but it broke on a forehand.

That's what thought. The one time I used PPA I broke it on a shank after 7 hours (which was pretty long).

I've seen a JV player hit with that thing for nearly 2 months... 4 times a week too, and it never frayed, but it broke on a forehand.

Cant really tell when its thinning... is it especially noticeable?

Click to expand...

To be honest, it's usually a little bit of a surprise for me when it breaks. It doesn't have to be really thin right before it breaks. What you experienced is pretty common. If I'm lucky, I might get 10-12 hours with it, which is unusual because 6-8 is more common for me with a multi. It will start to stiffen after about 8-10 but will still play decently, and since you've gotten your money's worth by then, you can cut it if you don't like it. I've played with Premier LT (the more expensive one), and that one starts out stiffer and stiffens up sooner. Premier LT doesn't have the tri-core construction, so I think it's the multifilaments that are stiffening.

One nice thing about PPA is that it usually doesn't fray. If it does fray, it usually frays at such a micro level that it's not noticeable. I have seen it fray visibly on rare occasions. The main sign of wear is that it gets thinner. It will usually pop on a big hit. This can happen during the first hour if you hit the ball near the edge of the frame, it can happen after several hours (long after most multis have broken), or it can happen anytime in between if you are a string breaker and you shank the ball often. I think Mikeler included this on his most durable list, and I agree with that. It is very durable for a multi, but if you have a tendency to break strings prematurely on shanks, this is one of those that can break.

Click to expand...

PPA is very durable because it has a large mono core (actally 3 cores bound together) like a syngut, but the mono core is surrounded by filaments. It's 50/50 mono/multi, just like it's predecessor Prince Syngut Multifilament.
Prince Premiere LT is 100% thin filaments, which makes it a true 100% multi. This is why I love PPA as a cross, but hate it in a full job, just as I love Nvy in a cross, but hate it in a full setup.

PPA is very durable because it has a large mono core (actally 3 cores bound together) like a syngut, but the mono core is surrounded by filaments. It's 50/50 mono/multi, just like it's predecessor Prince Syngut Multifilament.
Prince Premiere LT is 100% thin filaments, which makes it a true 100% multi. This is why I love PPA as a cross, but hate it in a full job, just as I love Nvy in a cross, but hate it in a full setup.

Click to expand...

I still need to try PPA as a cross but I just bought 2 more sets of white Thunder Blast because none of my other favorite multis perform as well with B5E mains.

I've been playing Gamma Pro 18 and through some random circumstance tried out big banger ace, it was great on the ground and serve but lacked touch, however I did like the control it lent. I was thinking of trying out the head Rip control 17, would that have some of the control of a poly, or would I be better off sticking with the gamma as i do like that one?

I've been playing Gamma Pro 18 and through some random circumstance tried out big banger ace, it was great on the ground and serve but lacked touch, however I did like the control it lent. I was thinking of trying out the head Rip control 17, would that have some of the control of a poly, or would I be better off sticking with the gamma as i do like that one?

Click to expand...

If you can play 18G and not break it, I would definitely try RIP 17. I am using it now and it does offer much better control and good spin. Just dead enough to control the power of my 16x19 frame, plus is pretty comfortable (unlike poly).

I played this morning and rotated between B5E/DM and B5E/Hexy Fiber just to let my grips dry. That also shows how little difference I can tell between the two, so for the money Hexy is the better value as a cross. Egad, Lambsscroll what have I done? I'm killing my profit margins!

I played this morning and rotated between B5E/DM and B5E/Hexy Fiber just to let my grips dry. That also shows how little difference I can tell between the two, so for the money Hexy is the better value as a cross. Egad, Lambsscroll what have I done? I'm killing my profit margins!

Click to expand...

I'm interested which cross loses tension first or breaks, unless the B5E quits first. Then it would be down to which cross has a better price.

I'm interested which cross holds tension longer, unless the B5E quits first. Then it would be down to which cross has a better price.

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure DM loses less tension. My Hexy cross hybrids always drop dramatically after the first hit, but they at least stay pretty steady after that. With a poly, it's certain that death will either come from the cross breaking or the poly dying.

I've been playing Gamma Pro 18 and through some random circumstance tried out big banger ace, it was great on the ground and serve but lacked touch, however I did like the control it lent. I was thinking of trying out the head Rip control 17, would that have some of the control of a poly, or would I be better off sticking with the gamma as i do like that one?

Click to expand...

Gamma Professional is my personal favorite string (although the 18g wouldn't last me two hours).

If you want to try something similar but just a touch stiffer, try Live Wire XP. It's very very close to Professional but more bang for the buck.

Also, if you're thinking you might like poly, try a hybrid of Gamma iO or Gamma RZR Rx (both softer, very playable polys) with either Professional or LW XP.

Gamma Professional is my personal favorite string (although the 18g wouldn't last me two hours).

If you want to try something similar but just a touch stiffer, try Live Wire XP. It's very very close to Professional but more bang for the buck.

Also, if you're thinking you might like poly, try a hybrid of Gamma iO or Gamma RZR Rx (both softer, very playable polys) with either Professional or LW XP.

Click to expand...

How many hours could you get with the Io/rzr pro combo? The thing I really didn't like with the Big Banger is it totally died at around 8-10 hours, I hit pretty flat so the pro 18 didn't break till around 16 hours, do you use 16 or 17 gauge?

How many hours could you get with the Io/rzr pro combo? The thing I really didn't like with the Big Banger is it totally died at around 8-10 hours, I hit pretty flat so the pro 18 didn't break till around 16 hours, do you use 16 or 17 gauge?

Click to expand...

I haven't tested that combo, and I'm typically a quick string-breaker for syn guts and multis, but I usually cut polys before they break.

I would guess that iO/RZR should give you at least 15-20 hours of play (though I'm honestly not sure how much elasticity would be left after that long). Honestly, it's really really hard for me to guess b/c I'm more a multi user than I am a poly user. But iO and RZR Rx are two polys that have a nicer feel to me, so I think they are good candidates for someone who likes multi but might want to venture into polys.

Because of the unique material in RZR Rx (and based on my own experience) I would think it would continue to feel softer longer than that Luxilon of yours, but here again -- my testing with polys is a lot more limited than my testing with multis.

Anyone tried the Prince Beast/Premier Attack hybrid? How does it feel? The pro shop just got a shipment of them for the first time.

Click to expand...

Someone here said it played too soft for his liking. Neither Beast or PPA are really stiff nor crisp, so it wouldn't be surprising. I expect PPA to hold until Beast is dead if you're not an heavy string breaker.

I've hit with beast and triumph. I may have had the tension too high but overall it felt good. My tourbite/nxt set up was def at lower tension and the sweet spot was huge. beast/triumph had a smaller feeling sweet spot. Control was there from the poly and the multi gave enough cush.

Played yesterday with the B5E/Thunderblast (went for 52/56 lbs) recommendation and, hey presto, you were bang on the money with this one. Exactly what I was hoping for re feel, power, spin, etc. This is a real contender for me now. Cheers again

Played yesterday with the B5E/Thunderblast (went for 52/56 lbs) recommendation and, hey presto, you were bang on the money with this one. Exactly what I was hoping for re feel, power, spin, etc. This is a real contender for me now. Cheers again

Click to expand...

Great to hear. I've tried most of my favorite multis now as crosses with B5E and ThunderBlast is still the king of crosses for me.

Mikeler or others, which multi do you think would be the easiest to switch to for a full poly user?
I've never used any multi aside from nxt 17 because thats what my shops strings our demos with and I don't like it that much. I also break it in literally 10 minutes of hitting.
Does any multi give the same or better access to spin as a non spinny poly?

i doubt you'll find any multi that gives poly-like spin and i guess that if you do in a set of nxt 17 within 10 minutes (which i can understand, having gone through a set of mcs 16 within 15 minutes including warm-up from the halfcourt), you'll have a hard time finding any multi to make it more than an hour of intensive hitting. this means that stringing takes about as long as playing (considering also removing the strings from the stick).

Mikeler or others, which multi do you think would be the easiest to switch to for a full poly user?
I've never used any multi aside from nxt 17 because thats what my shops strings our demos with and I don't like it that much. I also break it in literally 10 minutes of hitting.
Does any multi give the same or better access to spin as a non spinny poly?

I played with both Xcel power and X-1 biphase now. Xcel power for 3 hours. long time user of X-1 biphase. I am feeling that Xcel power is slightly more powerful multi than X-1. Do you guys agree with this ? maybe I should give Xcel power a longer test but ...I thought I ask.

Mikeler,you tried alot of strings and combos; i wonder if a multi/poly hybrid gives any more spin than full multi or is it the same or even lower ?

I'm back with full Sensation again and this time i liked it,except when fresh it went back in postition but now 3 hours later it doesnt and its a pain in the rear to arrange them all the time so perhaps a poly cross would help there ?
When fresh i got surprisingly much spin,more than expected and it would be nice to keep that effect abit longer.

I currently use 16g, but i have ordered a 17g sensation and co-focus 1.18 for cross.

Mikeler,you tried alot of strings and combos; i wonder if a multi/poly hybrid gives any more spin than full multi or is it the same or even lower ?

I'm back with full Sensation again and this time i liked it,except when fresh it went back in postition but now 3 hours later it doesnt and its a pain in the rear to arrange them all the time so perhaps a poly cross would help there ?
When fresh i got surprisingly much spin,more than expected and it would be nice to keep that effect abit longer.

I currently use 16g, but i have ordered a 17g sensation and co-focus 1.18 for cross.

Click to expand...

multi/poly definitely gives more spin than full multi, plus it has the added benefit of not needing constant fixing and straightening like full multi does.
Just pick you favorite multi for the mains and pick a round slick poly for the crosses and you're all set. I prefer NXT Tour and Solinco Outlast.

Multi in the mains? Poly will likely eat it. Multi in the crosses is the way to go.

Click to expand...

not for me. If you use a round slick poly in the crosses it lasts quite well.
now if you are a powerful hitter with extreme topspin, you may have some durability issues, but this all depends on the player.

Did you by any chance try Wilson sensation in your 104 ? If so how does it compare to Nxt tour ?

Click to expand...

never tried Sensation in the 104, but it would probably be pretty good.
NXT Tour is a little more crisp and lower powered and I like it a lot, so no reason to change. Sensation would be a good way to save a few $$'s though and would probably be pretty similar in a multi/poly setup.

Mikeler,you tried alot of strings and combos; i wonder if a multi/poly hybrid gives any more spin than full multi or is it the same or even lower ?

I'm back with full Sensation again and this time i liked it,except when fresh it went back in postition but now 3 hours later it doesnt and its a pain in the rear to arrange them all the time so perhaps a poly cross would help there ?
When fresh i got surprisingly much spin,more than expected and it would be nice to keep that effect abit longer.

I currently use 16g, but i have ordered a 17g sensation and co-focus 1.18 for cross.

Click to expand...

I have not tried multi/poly. I'm not a fan of gut/poly so I doubt I'd like multi/poly.